"That's fine too," Song Luhuai said, clearly taking a relaxed view of the situation. "Qingxi is still too young. Leaving the mountain too early wouldn't do her any good. Try to talk her out of it. But if she insists, just let her go. Everyone has their fate we can't stop it even if we try. The two of them looking after each other wouldn't be a bad thing."
After all, once Qingxing was allowed down the mountain, adding Qingxi to the mix wouldn't make much of a difference. If you're letting one out, what's the harm in letting two? A little rounding, and it all works out the same.
"I understand, Uncle."
Song Changsheng nodded and summoned the Soul-Slaying Gourd, heading toward Little Azure Mountain...
Come to think of it, he hadn't been back since breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage. He wondered how the spirit fish and green plum tree were doing now.
"Qingxing should be at the late stages of Qi Refining by now. Qingxi's aptitude is slightly inferior, but she shouldn't be far behind," Song Changsheng mused as the familiar outline of Little Azure Mountain came into view.
Before long, he arrived at the edge of Mirror Lake. Watching the gentle ripples on the water's surface, he landed by the shore and, as he had done many times before, boarded a small boat toward the island in the middle of the lake.
Midway across, a large school of spirit fish suddenly surrounded him over a hundred in number bubbling cheerfully as they swam alongside the boat.
Song Changsheng's eyes landed on one particularly large spirit fish staring at him with wide eyes, occasionally blowing out a bubble. It was the Spirit Fish King, which had successfully advanced to the second rank. Despite the years that had passed, it hadn't forgotten Song Changsheng and was greeting him in its special way.
Smiling, Song Changsheng retrieved a few first-tier spirit herbs from his storage pouch, crushed them, and scattered them across the lake. The fish quickly swarmed to snatch up the offerings except for the Spirit Fish King. It just gazed at him in a daze for a while, then gave a flick of its tail and vanished into the green depths of the lake.
Bidding farewell to the fish, Song Changsheng continued toward the island. He didn't hide his presence, and the two people on the island had already sensed his approach.
It had been years, and Song Qingxi had grown much taller, now blooming into a lovely young lady. Dressed in a sky-blue waist-length skirt, her long black hair was tied back with a colorful ribbon that fluttered like a butterfly in the wind. Her innocent smile radiated youthful vitality.
She's blossomed… Song Changsheng thought. In the future, who knows how many talented young men will fall for her?
Beside her stood Song Qingxing, whose height had shot up and now nearly matched Song Changsheng's. He still wore his usual tight-fitting black attire. With a tall, lean build, messy black hair, sharp cheekbones, and sword-like eyes, he stood with arms crossed like a sword itself, radiating an oppressive aura.
"This kid's improved a lot. After a stint of real-world training, he'll have a limitless future." Song Changsheng's eyes narrowed. He could sense a unique 'momentum' brewing within Qingxing one that would surely erupt spectacularly.
Their cultivation had advanced significantly too. Song Qingxi, now fifteen, had reached the sixth level of Qi Refining. Song Qingxing, at seventeen, had reached the eighth level.
At their age, this was an impressive achievement enough to qualify them for an early journey down the mountain.
"Uncle!" Song Qingxi cupped her hands around her mouth like a trumpet and shouted at him.
A bright smile lit up Song Changsheng's face as he waved and increased the boat's speed. In a flash, he was ashore.
As Song Qingxi tried to leap into his arms like old times, Song Changsheng gently stopped her with a raised hand and gave her a symbolic pat on the head instead.
The little girl puffed her cheeks in protest and glared at him indignantly.
"I don't sense any fighting spirit from you today. What's this? You're not challenging me anymore?" Song Changsheng teased Qingxing with a smile.
In the past, every time they met, the boy would challenge him even though he lost every single time, he never gave up. Yet today, Qingxing made no move at all. What, did the sun rise in the west?
Qingxing glanced at him coldly and said,
"You've already broken through to Foundation Establishment. Challenging you now would just be asking for a beating. When I catch up to you in cultivation, I'll issue a proper challenge."
Hearing such a composed response from the typically cold and stoic boy caught Song Changsheng by surprise but also filled him with a bit of pride. That's growth too, isn't it?
Of course, catching up to Song Changsheng in cultivation was easier said than done. A knowing smile tugged at his lips as he replied,
"Then you'll have to work even harder, or else that day will never come."
Qingxing remained unmoved, merely gazing at him in silence.
"Uncle, you haven't visited me in forever!" Qingxi whined, clinging to his arm.
Song Changsheng smiled indulgently.
"I've just been too busy lately and didn't have time."
"Then you owe me a story! No, three stories!" She held up three fingers like green spring onions, her eyes flashing with playful cunning.
"Alright, alright. I'll tell you as many as you want. But I'm here on official business today. Can we talk about that first?"
Hearing that, Qingxi's bright little face immediately drooped. She pouted and flung his arm away in mock anger, stepping back with a huff.
"So you're here to talk us out of leaving too, just like Grandpa Twelfth?" she grumbled.
Though she looked like a sweet, naïve girl, Song Qingxi was anything but her mind was sharp, and she was quick-witted. The moment Song Changsheng opened his mouth, she had already guessed what he was there for.
"If you're also here to stop me from going down the mountain," Song Qingxing said coolly without even turning to look at him, "then you can leave now."
Song Changsheng smiled faintly and sat leisurely on a stone bench beneath the green plum tree, looking at him with interest. "Can you tell me why you want to go down the mountain?"
"To become stronger," Song Qingxing replied without hesitation.
The little girl beside him nodded like a pecking chick, completely in agreement.
"And have you planned it out in detail?" Song Changsheng asked. "You're not just going to wander around aimlessly, are you?"
"I've got a plan. No need for you to worry," Qingxing replied confidently.
But Song Changsheng didn't look at him. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Song Qingxi.
The little girl pursed her lips, then spoke softly, "We were planning to start by hunting monsters in the mountain range to train our combat skills… then head east to Xuzhou."
Song Changsheng's brows lifted in surprise. He instantly understood and exclaimed, "You're planning to go to the Heavenly Sword Sect?"
Song Qingxing shot Song Qingxi a helpless glance, then gave a small nod and replied in a low voice, "That's right. I want to see the legendary Heavenly Sword Monument for myself."
Hearing this, Song Changsheng couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath. Their bold ambition genuinely stunned him.
The Heavenly Sword Sect was one of the most ancient and prestigious Purple Mansion sects in the Qi Cultivation Realm. Its disciples were all elite sword cultivators. Even at its peak, the Song Clan couldn't dream of comparing to it.
Above the Heavenly Sword Sect stood the famed Heavenly Sword Monument, rumored to have been left behind by an immortal sword cultivator from the Upper Realm. It was said to contain supreme sword dao insights, and those who could comprehend it might one day ascend to immortality.
The disciples of the sect saw themselves as servants of the sword immortal, calling themselves guardians of the way. According to their lore, their mission was to help the immortal find a worthy successor.
But, this tale had always sounded far-fetched. Over the past millennium, tens of thousands have tried to comprehend the monument.
And yet not even a single Golden Core cultivator had emerged from it, let alone an immortal. The strongest figure produced was the former sect master, who only achieved the peak of the Purple Mansion Realm.
That's why most people treated the tale like a joke.
Even so, the monument was undeniably a rare treasure. Many cultivators had grasped sword intent from it, which was why sword cultivators still flocked to the Heavenly Sword Sect in droves.
The sect wasn't stingy either it openly allowed any human cultivator to try comprehending the monument, with no barriers, no restrictions.
This detail did lend some credibility to the legend.
Yet others believed this was simply the sect's recruitment strategy. After all, sword cultivators were rare, and talented ones even rarer. For a sect that exclusively trained sword cultivators, maintaining numbers was a serious challenge.
So they came up with this clever scheme to lure all nearby sword cultivators under the pretense of the monument, and then handpick disciples to bolster their ranks.
Most people subscribed to this theory including Song Changsheng.
If that monument truly held the secret to becoming a sword immortal, would a mere Purple Mansion sect still be standing? It would've been razed to the ground long ago by those stronger factions.
In theory, with Qingxing's sword talent, he would surely gain something by comprehending the monument.
But there was a critical problem: distance. The Heavenly Sword Sect was simply too far from the Song Clan.
To reach it, they would have to head eastward, out of Lingzhou, pass through Yangzhou controlled by the Lieyang Sect then through Xiangzhou, which was dominated by the Rong Clan, before finally reaching Xuzhou, under the Heavenly Sword Sect.
That journey wasn't just filled with countless dangers the sheer distance alone was daunting. A straight-line trip would be over a hundred thousand li, and that's without considering the return leg.
Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn't guarantee they'd survive the journey unscathed let alone two Qi Refining juniors. They'd likely be devoured without a trace.
"No way. That's far too dangerous. I won't allow it, and neither will the elders. Training is one thing, but you need to act within your limits," Song Changsheng said flatly.
Going down the mountain was fine but only within Lingzhou or nearby regions. If something went wrong, the clan could still respond. Go that far? If anything happened, there'd be nothing they could do.
"Wait… so you're saying we're allowed to go down the mountain?" Song Qingxi asked excitedly.
Song Changsheng frowned. "I never said you couldn't leave the mountain but that doesn't mean I'm okay with this insane plan."
He added under his breath, "At least… not this time."
The air fell into a tense silence. Song Qingxing stared coldly at him. Song Changsheng met his gaze without backing down. The two locked eyes, neither giving way.
Qingxi, watching this, stomped her foot and stepped forward to glare at Qingxing with hands on hips.
"Don't look at Uncle like that! He's your elder!"
Before her, Qingxing had no backbone at all. He reluctantly turned away, though the stubborn glint in his eyes remained.
Having "disciplined" her brother, the little girl turned her attention back to Song Changsheng. She clung to his arm, shaking it playfully, and pleaded,
"Uncle~ You've gotta help us think of something! The Heavenly Sword Monument means a lot to Qingxing!"
This one-two combo made Song Changsheng feel like his bones were going soft. He looked at the girl with a fond expression.
"Alright, alright, stop shaking me… I'm going to fall apart at this rate."
Qingxi obediently stopped, but still held tightly onto his sleeve, blinking her shiny black eyes up at him.
Song Changsheng paused to think for a moment, then said slowly,
"It's not that you can't go…"
Song Qingxi's big eyes instantly lit up, and even Song Qingxing couldn't help but look over.
"But," Song Changsheng said in a firm tone, "there's no way I'll let you go alone. You'll have to wait a bit longer. Once Fourth Elder and I return from Luoxia City, one of us will accompany you on the journey. That's the final bottom line non-negotiable."
This arrangement was much more acceptable. Song Qingxi immediately looked over at Song Qingxing, furiously signaling him with her eyes.
Song Qingxing sighed inwardly, then finally nodded. "Alright. How long do we have to wait?"
"I'll be gone for at least a year, but Fourth Elder should return much sooner."
"I agree," Song Qingxing said, "but I have one condition."
"Go ahead."
"While you're away in Luoxia City, we want to go down the mountain too," he replied calmly.
"No problem but you'll be limited to the Wangyue Mountain Range or the Liuyun Market." This was something Song Changsheng had already planned to allow, so he agreed readily.
"Accepted," Song Qingxing replied with a single, curt word.
Seeing the two finally agree, a bright smile bloomed on Song Qingxi's face. In truth, she didn't care where they were going only who she was going with.
If he wanted to visit the Heavenly Sword Sect, she would accompany him there. If he didn't want to go anywhere and chose to live his whole life on Little Azure Mountain, she'd stay by his side all the same.
"Just don't go back on your word," Song Changsheng said with a light smile.
Though the two siblings were kept highly confidential within the clan unknown to the outside world and restricted in their movements Song Changsheng still wanted to be cautious and gave them protective items just in case.
"These are Thunder Beads and a Substitute Death Paper Doll," he said, handing two jade boxes to Song Qingxi. "The former can kill a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator; the latter can save your life once. Keep them safe."
These were treasures he'd seized in the past useless to him now, but perfect for her.
"Thank you, Uncle," Song Qingxi said sweetly with a smile.
"And this jade pendant," he continued, turning to Song Qingxing, "can block a full-force strike from a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Keep it on you at all times. This is a mid-grade Tier-2 Divine Flame Talisman, a gift from your Twelfth Granduncle."
The jade pendant had originally been a protective item from Song Changsheng's mother, but it was no longer needed by him. The talisman was personally drawn by Song Luhuai and carried tremendous power.
A flicker of emotion passed through Song Qingxing's eyes as he looked at the items, but it was quickly masked. He simply said a quiet "Thank you."
This was just his personality, and Song Changsheng didn't mind. He began patiently explaining the things they needed to watch out for when leaving the mountain and once he started, it went on for several days straight.
In the blink of an eye, the day of departure arrived. Song Changsheng said goodbye to the siblings and returned to the clan…
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